Men with rejoined hands meet

Press, Issue 33840, 12 May 1975, Page 16

Men with rejoined hands meet

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Two young men who owe their hands to the skill of New Zealand surgeons have met for the first time at Middlemore Hospital.

Mr Joseph Harding, aged 20 of Auckland, whose severed right hand was rejoined by 1 surgeons' at the hospital on : Tuesday, was eager to know how quickly his hand would heal. Michael Maheno, aged 16, , was able to give him some idea, because he went ■ through a similar operation ' just over eight weeks ago. , Michael, whose left hand was , replaced at Waikato Hospital, j came from Hamilton especially to visit Mr Harding.

Michael’s hand was severed in an accident with a circular saw in Taupo. Already he is getting back some of the use of it. “I’ve been doing a bit of window cleaning, and I can take the tops off bottles,” he said.

Mr Harding, whose hand was cut off at the wrist by an industrial guillotine at an Onehunga factory, said he was just able to move one of his fingers. “It does hurt, though. I am right handed, so now I will have to learn to write with my left hand. Then I can do things like writing letters

while I am in hospital,” Mr Harding said. “I know my hand will not ever be the same again, but it is just enough having it back. The two chatted freely about their accidents, and how they feel now. Michael, who is now looking forward to studying draughting, showed some of the movement that regular physiotherapy is restoring to his fingers.